Country estates find their way back into buyer’s hearts

May 29, 2018

Photo courtesy of Brian Smith

Known for being havens of rustic, down-to-earth hideaways, ranches, farms and country estates are finding their way back into the forefront of buyer’s minds. Luckily for those interested, these properties can be found in nearly every corner of the U.S.

Located in the heart of Albany is Cane Mill Plantation, a $16 million estate in the heart of the quail plantation belt in Georgia. Properties in this area are contiguous with one another, according to agent Elliot Davenport Jr., of Hall and Hall, and cover a large breadth of land with a variety of outdoor recreation. Offering a main lodge, staff housing, dog kennel and more, this fifth-generation-owned property is an ideal hunting retreat at the tail-end of the Appalachian Mountains, at only an hour distance to Atlanta.

Southwest in Texas is a more wide-ranging assortment of ranch, farm and estate properties to choose from, depending on the needs of the buyers. “Buyers without horses often go a bit further outside of the Dallas/Fort Worth area,” says Keller Williams Realty Agent Kim Hunter, “as their country estates are used similarly to mountain or lake homes; it’s really about a weekend retreat for these buyers. Ranchers tend to look for much larger tracts (100-plus acres) where they keep a mixture of horses and cattle.”

Photo courtesy of California Outdoor Properties

Photo courtesy of California Outdoor Properties

Photo courtesy of Hall and Hall

Hunter just listed the Furst Ranch Estate, a 127-acre working ranch with world-class horse facilities and a high lodge-style home atop one of the highest points in northern Denton County. Apart from the renovated lodge home, the rolling landscape and abundance of trees on the exterior is what surely makes this ranch special. “It’s not pretentious, despite its size and amenities, so it could serve as a private home, family compound, corporate or executive retreat,” says Hunter.

Farther west into the Williams Fork River Valley of Colorado sits Motherwell Ranch, a 10,350±-acre mountain ranch that combines a diverse landscape, privacy, fishing from multiple water sources, and much more. Water is what secures Motherwell as a significant property, according to Hall and Hall Agent Brian Smith. “Good water is essential … and with 3.3 miles of the Williams Fork River, four lakes, over 90 ponds and smaller creeks, the ranch really stands out for its quality and quantity of water,” says Smith.

Local Californian rancher and Realtor Jim Martin is listing White Oak Ranch and Vineyard, a 255-acre property in Mendocino County with 130 acres of productive vineyards. “The White Oak Ranch & Vineyard is California’s premiere wine country estate where Mediterranean refinement blends with Western tradition,” says Martin, as the ranch’s architectural style is based on homes in Provence, France.

On the ranch is the Villa, which offers 10,000 square feet, five en suite bedrooms, seven baths, a professional kitchen, two internal courtyard gardens and an outdoor kitchen with an exterior fireplace. White Oak has first-class amenities of the highest order, coupled with a full-scale, commercial and income-producing vineyard. — Kristen Ordonez

Left and top right photos courtesy of Kim Hunter. Bottom right photo courtesy of California Outdoor Properties.